Gruesome Tour of Hexham

Overview

Available languages

English

1 hour

Mobile ticket

Beautiful Hexham’s Ugly Past - Guided Walking Tour

“Fascinating to learn just how stinky/violent this picturesque market town was.” “Would totally recommend this if you’ve got an hour.”

“Informative, fun, evocative tour” “A fabulous, quirky tour”

Explore over 1,000 years of Hexham’s dark history as your guide, an accomplished public speaker and official Hexham Town Crier, brings the past to life.

Just arrived in Hexham? Get to know your way around while being entertained.

Tour includes:

The market square massacre in which 51 were killed.

The brutal, life-changing punishments given for trivial offences.

The macabre contents that gave the drinking water its ‘distinct’ flavour.

How well does your guide know Hexham?

They were born and raised in Hexham.

They spent eight months researching Hexham’s history.

They’re an official Town Crier for Hexham.

This tour is: Accessible Dog-Friendly Circular Route

A healthy outdoor activity

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Dog Friendly

Disability Aware

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Experienced Storytelling Guide

All Refreshments

What To Expect

Hexham

We begin and walk through the ancient Market Town of Hexham.

4 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Hexham Abbey

We stop outside the stunning Abbey to hear of Hexham's most 'bloodiest' days and then walk through the garden to hear of repeated attacks from invaders. (opportunity for Photographs)

8 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Gruesome Tour of Hexham

Reviews

4.96

23 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great gruesome history tour
837jacquir,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Fun evening for all the family. Interesting facts about Hexham's history. Knowledgeable host made tour personable and engaging.
Good value for money and a great hour spent in Hexham.
Z6865QBjessicaa,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Visited the Hexham gruesome tour with my teenage daughter, we both really enjoyed the tour, very interesting and the guide was lovely and welcoming, she really immersed us in the stories.
Great experience for uniformed groups
jillg253,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We recently joined Helen with 22 members of our Beaver Scout colony for her Gruesome Tour of Hexham. Helen did an amazing job of tweaking the tour to make it age appropriate but still fascinating for 6-7 year olds. The group loved learning about our home town and all came away talking about their favourite stories, sharing them with their families. Even the adults who've lived in Hexham for decades learned something new. Thanks Helen - we'll be back!
hexham tour
911feh,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
very interesting evening and nice to know more about the town. Helen was lovely and very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject
Family fun in Hexham
P6426FZlisah,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic experience, thoroughly enjoyable evening for all the family. Helen was incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining.
Fun and entertaining
277beverleyn,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We booked a tour with helen and she was brilliant we had a seven year old with us and she kept getting her involved. We learned stuff we didn’t know about Hexham in a fun and entertaining way. Thank you Helen
Great Tour
Faye B,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had an excellent tour guide Helen. We were a party of 4 families with 8 adults and 11 children between us, ranging from 9 to 17. Everybody really enjoyed the tour and Helen was full of interesting, gruesome facts. She interacted really well with the children and made it very fun for them.
Probably the best tour I've been on.
Y8395HGnigelg,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What a brilliant tour! Helen was excellent, a superb communicator who kept us fascinated and entertained for well over an hour on life in Hexham in years and centuries past. I used to train staff in how to communicate well, and I take my hat off to Helen for her knowledge, enthusiasm and clarity. Hexham's her home town and she's clearly proud of it, gruesome warts and all. We'll certainly join her Newcastle tour about women's protest when we're next in Northumberland. Many thanks!
An hour well spent.
alanm682018,
Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a really enjoyable tour. Despite heavy rain throughout the tour, Helen was a very engaging guide and brought Hexham's history to life. Would thoroughly recommend spending an hour on this tour in any weather! Very reasonably priced too.
Gruesome Hexham
G4770YDstevew,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Helen is very knowledgeable of the history and going ons of Hexham's past. The tour was very interesting and informative and made a nice change from a standard town/city tour. Helen is very friendly and we had a great time.